The Search for Significance

This past week in jail ministry, we summarized Robert S. McGee’s book, The Search for Significance, which was copyrighted July 15, 2003 and published by Thomas Nelson. Although the book was written about 20 years ago, it likely continues to have a powerful impact on those who read it and apply it to their lives today.

As we move through this series, our goals are healing, freedom, and maturity. In John 8:31-32, Yeshua (Jesus) said, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, ³² and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” Yeshua was talking about being free in terms of slavery to sin. We also find ourselves in a condition of bondage whenever we accept the lies of Satan and his kingdom; the truth can set us free from this kind of bondage too.

Satan’s Goals

Our enemy, Satan, is a thief, and according to John 10:10, he comes to kill, steal, and destroy. He does this in a variety of ways including the use of lies, temptations, etc. Embracing lies can lead to ungodly thoughts in just about any given situation. These thoughts can then lead to invalid emotions. Since this is the case, we need to evaluate our emotions and see if they are a result of lies we have believed. If we don’t, these emotions can potentially lead to ungodly actions. It’s never too late to do this, but it is better if we can manage doing this in the middle of a tough situation.

The Battle of the Mind

Our minds are the primary location of the spiritual battle we deal with daily. Second Corinthians 10:5 says, We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of Elohim (God), and take every thought captive to obey Messiah (Christ). Carrying out 2 Corinthians 10:5 requires us to constantly monitor our thoughts and emotions. This is not always easy; it takes plenty of practice, and we may still be honing this skill when Yeshua returns.

Our emotions are not necessarily bad. Elohim experiences emotions, and He has created us to experience emotions too. However, we are to monitor and control our emotions, so that we do not sin.

For those who have experienced traumas in their lives, a present-day situation can be a trigger from the past that causes them to experience emotions that are not always valid for the current situation. This also can lead to ungodly or inappropriate actions. Since this is the case, it may be necessary for them to sort through their various feelings until the source of the emotion is discovered. It also might be necessary for them to forgive someone or take the situation to the Lord for healing, so it can no longer be a source of distress in the future.

Generally, the emotions we experience in any situation must be evaluated carefully. This does not come naturally. Again, it takes lots of practice. It does help to learn many of the tactics and lies of the enemy and understand why we respond the way we do.

Some emotions we may struggle with include fear of failure, fear of rejection, guilt, shame, despair, anger, resentment, worry, anxiety, and depression. These can result in reactions such as impatience, hostility, rudeness, blaming others, pride, low motivation, chemical dependence, inability to show and receive love, and giving in to peer pressure. If we find we have succumbed to these reactions, we must be quick to confess our sins, so we can be cleansed of unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).

Once we have repented of/renounced our sins, believed/trusted in Yeshua for salvation and accepted the forgiveness and grace that is available as a result of Yeshua’s death on the cross, we need to understand who we are in Messiah. We must also understand that we are now better positioned to reject the lies of Satan and his demons.

I recommend that people take time to read Ephesians 1 and 2 as a starting point to know who they are in Messiah; however, there are many other verses that apply as well. I also suggest daily reviewing Neil Anderson’s list Who I Am In Christ. This will help people to identify and combat many of the lies that Satan and his demons throw at us.

Four Lies of the Enemy

In The Search for Significance, Robert S. McGee, revealed four of Satan’s lies that people often believe. These are often ingrained in our minds due to our upbringing and other outside influences in our lives. They are:

1. The performance trap (fear of failure);
2. The approval addict (fear of rejection);
3. The blame game (guilt);
4. Shame.

The Performance Trap

We do not have to meet certain performance standards to feel good about ourselves. There is no need to fear failure because Elohim has justified us. In other words, because of Messiah’s blood, Elohim’s grace, and our faith in Messiah, He has declared us righteous, guiltless, and acceptable to Him. We have been forgiven of our sins and trespasses; we stand blameless in His sight. Sometimes, we need to forgive ourselves.

• Romans 5:1-2 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with Elohim through our Lord Yeshua Messiah. ² Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of Elohim.
• (See also Romans 3:24, 5:9; 2 Corinthians 5:21).

The Approval Addict

We don’t have to constantly seek the approval of other people to feel good about ourselves either. Our relationship with Elohim has been restored. Since He has completely forgiven us, He accepts us; therefore, we don’t need to fear the rejection of others or do what the world wants us to do – especially when it is not pleasing to Elohim. Although it feels good when we have the approval of others, Elohim’s love and acceptance are all we really need.

• Galatians 1:10 For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of Elohim? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Messiah.
• Romans 12:2-3 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of Elohim, what is good and acceptable and perfect. ³ For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that Elohim has assigned.
• John 15:10-11 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. ¹¹ These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
• (See also Romans 5:11; 2 Corinthians 5:18-19).

The Blame Game

Sometimes we may fail. We can’t always be perfect, but that doesn’t mean we are unworthy of love or always deserve to be punished. Messiah’s blood has atoned (covered) our sins. Elohim loves us dearly. We don’t always have to fear punishment, and we don’t always need to punish others. When necessary, Elohim disciplines (instructs, corrects) His children because He loves us, so we can share in His holiness.

• Romans 3:24-26 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Messiah Yeshua, ²⁵ whom Elohim put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show Elohim’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. ²⁶ It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Yeshua.
• 1 John 4:10-12 In this is love, not that we have loved Elohim but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. ¹¹ Beloved, if Elohim so loved us, we also ought to love one another. ¹² No one has ever seen Elohim; if we love one another, Elohim abides in us and his love is perfected in us.
• Hebrews 12:10b-11 but he disciplines (educates, trains, corrects) us for our good, that we may share his holiness. ¹¹ For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
• (See also Hebrews 2:17; 1 John 2:2).

Shame

Often people feel “I am the way I am. I am not able to change. I am hopeless and full of shame.” Because our spirits have been born again, we have been made brand-new, complete in Messiah. We do not need to experience the pain of shame or hopelessness.

• Titus 3:4-7 But when the goodness and loving kindness of Elohim our Savior appeared, ⁵ he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, ⁶ whom he poured out on us richly through Yeshua Messiah our Savior, ⁷ so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
• 1 Peter 1:22-23 Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, ²³ since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of Elohim.
• Romans 10:9-12 because, if you confess with your mouth that Yeshua is Lord and believe in your heart that Elohim raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰ For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. ¹¹ For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.”
• Romans 5:3-5 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, ⁴ and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, ⁵ and hope does not put us to shame, because Elohim’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
• (See also Titus 3:5; 1 Peter 1:23).

Summary

Because of Yeshua’s loving kindness and mercy, He redeemed us from the curse of the law of sin and death. We can experience life in abundance by walking in righteousness by the power of the Holy Spirit. We have great worth in His eyes. This worth is not determined by our performance or other’s opinions about us. Our worth is based on what Elohim says about us, not on what others say about us.

We are deeply loved by the Lord. We are completely forgiven and accepted by Elohim. Our guilt and shame have been removed. We are complete in Messiah. We do not need man’s approval because we have Elohim’s approval. We were created for a purpose. We each have a destiny. Therefore, we need to ask Elohim what that is and walk in the path He has set before us by the power of the Holy Spirit. We can do this with confidence knowing who we are in Messiah.

Let the truths of Scripture set you free from Satan’s lies that keep you continually in bondage today.